Page 43 of Web of Lies

After a stretch of silence, it is Noah who breaks it. "You were pretty cryptic on the phone last night. Would you mind explaining what's going on?"

Evelyn looks between the three of us, clearly trying to piece things together. "Maybe we should start with the obvious. Why did the two of you show up together?"

I glance at Kyle, silently pleading with him not to say something stupid.

But before I can stop him, he blurts out, "We're dating.

" My eyes widen in disbelief, heart hammering in my chest. Way to go like a bull at a gate.

My head snaps toward Evelyn and Noah. Evelyn blinks rapidly, her eyes widening in pure shock.

Her jaw drops, lips forming a perfect little "O" as she stares back and forth between us.

Noah, on the other hand, is completely unfazed and reaches over and gently pushes Evelyn's chin up.

"Breathe, Dove," he says, then takes a long sip of his beer.

"Dating?" Evelyn finally utters, the initial shock on her face melting into a bright smile. Her eyes sparkle, wide with excitement, and she leans forward.

"You're not mad?" I ask, genuinely surprised by her reaction.

"Why would we be?" Noah says with a shrug, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Honestly, I'm not even surprised."

"What?" Kyle furrows his brow.

"Do you really think I didn't know where Riley lives?" He nods toward his phone lying on the table. "We share our locations. I may be retired, but I'm still observant."

"And you didn't tell me?" Evelyn huffs, turning on Noah. She smacks his arm playfully before gripping his biceps.

"I mean, I wasn't completely sure," Noah says with a shrug, his tone calm but filled with amusement.

"It could easily have been related to Hunt.

I didn't want to jump to conclusions." Evelyn narrows her eyes at him, clearly not satisfied with that answer.

"Which brings me to the point," Noah sighs, shifting his attention back to us.

"I don't think you woke me up at three a.m. and insisted on visiting just to confess that you two are dating. "

"That's true," I say before Kyle can speak. "Please let me explain."

"Sure," Kyle gives my thigh a reassuring squeeze and nods. "I'm here. Everything's alright." I take a shaky breath, swallowing the lump in my throat, and turn back to face Evelyn and Noah.

"I'm a rat," I say, and the room falls silent.

Evelyn's lips part in shock, but no sound escapes; her eyes widen, reflecting disbelief.

Noah's jaw tightens until it looks like it might snap, his lips pressed into a thin, hard line.

"Before you say anything," I rush to add, raising my hands in surrender, "please…

let me explain. It has nothing to do with either of you.

I wasn't spying on you." My heart hammers against my chest, threatening to burst through my ribcage.

Panic surges like fire, spreading from my chest to my fingertips.

My palms grow sweaty, and I rub them on the fabric of my yoga shorts in an attempt to calm myself.

Kyle gently squeezes my thigh, and I glance at him.

His expression is calm, a small reassuring smile playing on his lips, reminding me: I'm not alone in this.

I nod, take a deep breath, and turn back to face Evelyn and Noah.

Then, I tell them everything. I explain what happened six years ago—how I was caught, the choices I made, and how I was sent to infiltrate Hunt Corp.

to find information on the Butcher, how it felt easy at first, until everything spiraled out of control.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I truly belonged, and the original task I was given didn't matter anymore.

I tell them how Kyle and I met. How our relationship developed, and how everything fell apart over the past two months.

Neither of them intervenes as the words fall from my lips in a jumbled mess as I try to fit in every important piece of information.

Evelyn's eyes are locked on mine, her expression morphing into different shades of emotion.

A flicker of hurt crosses her face, creasing her brow.

Noah's face, on the other hand, morphs into something hard to read as every emotion drains from his features.

When I finally finish, the room falls silent once again. Without saying a word, Evelyn stands up and walks toward the tall glass door leading to the backyard.

"Evelyn," I call after her, half rising from my seat, but Kyle catches my wrist and pulls me back down.

"Let her," he says.

"But—"

At the same time, Noah raises a hand. "She just needs a minute to breathe," he says, standing up as well.

"It was a lot of information all at once.

" Without another word, he grabs her drink and follows her, shutting the door behind him.

Through the window, I see him wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her in closer.

"I messed up," I say in a barely audible whisper.

But Kyle immediately shakes his head. "No, you haven't."

"How do you know?"

"If you had, Evelyn would've attacked you the second you finished talking," he says with a chuckle. I look up and our eyes meet. "Noah's right. Was she hurt? Yes. But I didn't see any anger or betrayal in her eyes. But it was a lot to process."

I glance past him just as the door opens again, and Evelyn and Noah step back inside. Evelyn walks toward us, takes a deep breath, and sits down beside me again, offering me a small smile.

Noah remains standing, his attention on Kyle. "Let's give them some space. They should talk alone."

"Yeah, good idea." Kyle turns to me. "Will you be okay without me?"

I glance at Evelyn, who gives me a reassuring nod before I turn back to Kyle. "Yes, I'll be fine."

"Okay," he says, leaning down to press a kiss on the top of my head before following Noah out of the room and leaving me alone with Evelyn.